We hardly need to recall the efforts of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in respect of ensuring the pending , unfunded or to be precise – languishing projects of development were completed and all difficulties, mainly with regard to their funding, even meeting their escalated costs of reconstruction, were met. These projects were more than 600 in number and it is to be believed that there were many such projects virtually ”rotting” for past many years and it was, perhaps, nobody’s concern all those years to do something about them, at least, to the extent of protecting that huge amount which was already spent on them till those projects were virtually abandoned. To retrieve the precarious position about both the status of the projects and the utility of the money spent on those projects, Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation Ltd (JKIDFC) was created in the year 2018 with a mandate to raise funds up to Rs.8000 crore. Since lot of clamouring was witnessed about the causes of the concerned projects plunging into uncertainties as attributed to funds crunch and now, when that main problem rather the hitch was adequately taken care of , why should there be still problems which could absolutely have been avoided?
It is really in bad taste to find glaring instances revolving around sheer incompetence, recklessness , under performance and resorting to irregular practices in respect of most of the projects revived under the ”Languishing Projects” scheme which reflects very poorly about those authorities of different departments who were to run , supervise and monitor these projects? These Heads of Departments and other concerned authorities, otherwise should haveshown exemplary interest in ensuring these projects maintained all parameters of timeline and quality standards . Official paraphernalia and other requirements like tendering processes, physical verifications, stage-wise monitoring, clearing bills and payments of contractors in time to restore confidence in the system and the like,hardly needed any special emphasis but still , many a time there were guidelines and reminders issued by the Finance Department as also by General Administration Department about adopting a pointed and serious approach towards the completion of these projects.
It is , however, unfortunate that there should be very poor manner of conducting of the execution of many projects coming under the category of languishing ones hence undermining the process of the fruition thereof.Not only have instances been noticed about splitting of tenders but drawing funds from two sources or resorting to duality of funding too have been observed. While efforts have been made by the Government to cut on delays and red-tape-ism, instances are there when considerable delay has been caused in releasing funds to the contractors. The list is unending depicting incompetence or simply following and strengthening the “Chalta Hai” syndrome which these projects, in each and every stage, must have faced leading to their becoming a liability and retrieving them now under languishing projects. Many projects have not been taken at all for reconstruction , while in most of the others, their fate hangs in the balance due to non-tendering of works.. JKIDFC has stakes involved as it is providing funds, it has naturally to see, find and detect shortcomings of different hues including irregularities regarding the issue of finances and suggest remedial measures too. It has , therefore, come out with finding cogently a host of shortcomings and in certain cases, clearly declared performance as ”unsatisfactory”. It is a commendable decision to ask the concerned officers to clarify their position and forward the same to the Corporation.
We would like to add that had there been a strict monitoring process in place in respect of each and every project and timely action taken, perhaps the position would have been better and not as much dismal.It is only the extent of realisation of one’s duty and obligation as responsible officers and authorities in the Governmentto walk an extra mile and work sincerely and had such feelings been there , though we cannot generalise , the fate of most of the projects even after arranging funding for them would have been comparatively better. It would be quite proper, therefore, to invoke accountability and responsibility
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